The Sacred Beetle 



Scent and sight soon put him on the track. 

 He makes haste and catches up the robber; 

 but the artful dodger, when he feels his 

 pursuer close on his heels, promptly changes 

 his posture, gets on his hind-legs and clasps 

 the ball with his toothed arms, as he does 

 when acting as an assistant. 



You rogue, you ! I see through your 

 tricks : you mean to plead as an excuse that 

 the pellet rolled down the slope and that 

 you are only trying to stop It and bring it 

 back home, I, however, an impartial wit- 

 ness, declare that the ball was quite steady 

 at the entrance to the burrow and did not roll 

 of its own accord. Besides, the ground is 

 level. I declare that I saw you set the thing 

 in motion and make off with unmistakable 

 intentions. It was an attempt at larceny, or 

 I've never seen one ! 



My evidence is not admitted. The owner 

 cheerfully accepts the other's excuses; and 

 the two bring the ball back to the burrow as 

 though nothing had happened. 



If the thief, however, has time to get far 

 enough away, or if he manages to cover his 

 trail by adroitly doubling back, the injury 

 is irreparable. To collect provisions under 

 a blazing sun, to cart them a long distance, 

 to dig a comfortable banqueting-hall in the 



35 



